Latest news with #buildingcosts
Telegraph
25-05-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Why now is the perfect time for a home extension
Homeowners dreaming of an extension should act now, as the cost of building works has dropped by almost a third in a year. Trade directory Checkatrade found that the average cost of a building job had fallen by 28pc to £12,065 in the three months to March, compared to the same period in 2024. Experts said low demand for large renovation projects and wider availability of building materials had pushed costs down. Figures published by the Department for Business and Trade's latest building materials supply index found that deliveries of bricks had risen by 8.5pc compared to January last year, while concrete deliveries were up 4.2pc. The report found that building material prices were stabilising, having dipped below their peak in 2022 when supply chains faced heavy disruption. Building materials and labour soared in the wake of the pandemic, and Checkatrade said costs were further pushed up by the effects of Brexit. Jambu Palaniappan, of Checkatrade, said: 'We've seen demand for some of the bigger home improvement jobs dip over the past year, and as demand has slowed, prices have followed, making it more affordable for people to get work done. 'This drop in costs, combined with the usual seasonal uptick we see at the start of the year, has led to a big rise in certain types of home improvement projects recently, as consumers take advantage of better prices.' The website also found the number of interior design jobs commissioned had risen by 33pc since last year. Painting and decorating searches also increased 22pc. The website said general 'handyman' costs had also fallen significantly from £592 to £389 in the past 12 months, with tiling and electrical work similarly dropping by 25pc to £1,307. Jane Hewson, 64, a homeowner from Herefordshire, said she was planning an extension to the small barn next to her home with the hope of downsizing into it. She said: 'I don't want to move out of the area as I love it, but until recently it's been very difficult to get a decent builder.' Ms Hewson said she was provided quotes of around £95,000 plus VAT to extend the barn, but in more recent months has seen the price come down to the region of £75,000. She said: 'I was pleasantly surprised, but I don't think prices are going to come down again.' Although prices are falling, the Federation of Master Builders (MFB) has warned homeowners to exercise caution when approaching builders who do not have a licence. The trade body, together with the Homeowners Alliance lobby group, has called on the Government to introduce a mandatory licensing scheme for housebuilders. Without one, the MFB said homeowners had 'no legal safeguards to ensure builders meet basic standards'. Brian Berry, of the trade body, said: 'We can't allow just anyone to call themselves a builder any more. The Government must step up and bring in a licensing scheme that puts quality, safety, and accountability first.' Paula Higgins, of the Homeowners Alliance, added: 'I would hate to think how many people have fallen victim to rogue traders or poor-quality work, how many millions of pounds of households' money have been lost, and victims left to clear up the mess over the past decade alone. 'When it comes to appointing a builder, homeowners shouldn't have to cross their fingers and hope that their builder is one of the good ones. The Government needs to protect homeowners through licensing.'
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Higher costs driving up Guernsey concrete prices
A leading supplier of construction materials in Guernsey says islanders face high prices for some products due to the costs to make Roussel, manager at Ronez, which supplies aggregate, asphalt and concrete, said rising shipping and labour costs were headwinds faced by the States last week requested a review into the cost of island concrete products after initial investigations found some were "twice as high" as in the UK. Guernsey's competition watchdog, which is conducting the review, said some builders had reported customers could no longer afford to have work carried out. 'Demand dropping out' Mr Roussel said higher shipping and labour costs were factored into the price of some of its said island's "small market size and the smaller amount of material produced leads to higher unit costs", but added prices had risen yearly in line with Byrne, chief executive of the Guernsey Competition and Regulatory Authority, said the review would look at solutions to reduce costs."The building sector has been saying that demand has been falling and this is almost certainly because the cost and viability of investment," he said."Demand is dropping out and that is a development that is potentially affecting growth, because if people are not spending in capital investment, that speaks to things as an economy it would be good for us to solve." 'Key priority' In authorising the study, the Committee for Economic Development said it would show if prices were too high and how it could be review was brought as the States looks to see more new housing built in the Development President Deputy Neil Inder said: "With the development of housing being a key priority of the States, the prices of input products such as concrete and aggregates directly impact the cost of house building."Several large firms in the island told the BBC demand remained buoyant despite higher costs.
The Sun
13-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Top 12 home improvement jobs from that have FALLEN in price revealed from plumbing to tiling
THE cost of carrying out home improvements has fallen by as much as 34% in the last 12 months. Exclusive data from Checkatrade has revealed the 12 DIY jobs that have seen the biggest price falls - and the combined savings total almost £11,000. Falling building costs have made carrying out home improvements more affordable for homeowners, with the average cost of a job down 28%. The reductions follow several years of price rises caused by factors including increased material prices across the board. Builders and tradespeople were also impacted by supply chain disruptions, which created scarcity and drove up prices further. Add to this inflation, energy costs and labour shortages and consumers had got used to receiving eye-watering quotes since 2020. However, data shows that prices have begun to fall and unsurprisingly the reduction in costs has seen a significant increase in those undertaking work on their homes in 2025. The biggest fall in prices has been seen in handyman services with the average cost of a job carried out in the first three months of 2025 34% cheaper than it was in 2024. The second largest reduction was seen in building work with the average price of a job falling by 28%, from £16,818 to £12,065. Other home improvements to have seen big price reductions include tiling (25%), electrical works (25%), scaffolding (22%) and windows doors and conservatories (22%). These were followed by bricklaying, which saw a 21% price decrease from an average of £3,165 in 2024 to £2,489 in 2025. Other jobs to have fallen include central heating work (18%), plumbing (17%) and groundworks (16%). Jambu Palaniappan, CEO at Checkatrade, said: 'After ongoing rising costs fuelled by Brexit and Covid, it's a welcome relief for consumers to see prices finally easing. "We've seen demand for some of the bigger home improvement jobs dip over the past year, and as demand has slowed, prices have followed – making it more affordable for people to get work done. "This drop in costs, combined with the usual seasonal uptick we see at the start of the year, has led to a big rise in certain types of home improvement projects recently, as consumers take advantage of better prices." Checkatrade has warned that the sudden reduction in price could leave consumers at risk of cowboys charging above market rates. So, the tradesperson platform has launched a Job Estimate Calculator to help people make informed decisions before appointing a contractor. The free-to-use tool draws on data from 1.5million jobs completed by the site's 50,000 vetted trade businesses to generate accurate quotes for projects. Many people have shared stories of cowboy builders with The Sun including a dad left almost bankrupt after sinking £120,000 on a nightmare loft conversion. A mum also told The Sun she had her life ruined after "cowboy builders" took nearly £200,000 for a home renovation. How to find a reliable trader Checkatrade and GoCompare have shared tips for spotting a cowboy. The warning signs: Someone who asks for a cash payment upfront A trader who refuses to draw up an official contract for work Doesn't offer written estimates including a timeline for completing the job Doesn't offer references from previous clients Say they work 'off the books' Anyone who knocks on your door and says they've noticed you need work doing Traders without an official premises or landline phone number Those who aren't a member of a reputable trade group, such as the Federation of Master Builders or the National Federation of Builders Their workforce keeps changing They repeatedly find further work that needs completing
